News

Will our new ministers seize the opportunity to reset relations with fishermen, or will it be even more bad news for our coastal communities?

MPAs and Fishing – The Moment of Truth

Will our new ministers seize the opportunity to reset relations with fishermen, or will it be even more bad news for our coastal communities?

New ICES Cod Advice Highlights Flaws in the System

New advice from ICES for a zero TAC in the iconic North Sea cod fishery is bound to capture headlines, […]

NFFO data gathering to respond to MPA Gear Ban

On 9 June 2025, DEFRA and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) launched a 12-week online consultation proposing new byelaws to prohibit bottom-trawling and, in some cases, static gears (like traps and nets) in an additional 30,000 km² of English waters. This would expand total bottom-trawling restrictions to about 48,000 km². The proposed byelaws are tailored to each Marine Protected Area’s (MPA) specific habitat sensitivities (e.g., sandbanks, gravel beds, muds) and species protection needs.

Spatial Squeeze Working Group: joint statement – next steps

Where Will Our Fishers Still Be Allowed to Fish? A Joint Statement from the Belgian, Dutch, French, and UK Fishing Sectors on Stage 3 MPAs

Back to the Future

A new deal with the EU drags UK fishing back into a past we thought had been left behind, as fishing communities’ prospects are traded away yet again.

NFFO comment on 19th May UK-EU ‘reset’ summit

The NFFO is very disappointed with today’s deal and its impact on fishermen and their communities.

UK/EU Fishing Talks: Here we go again…

Once again, an agreement is being negotiated between the EU and the UK on fisheries and the rumours are swirling.

Ocean with David Attenborough: A Challenge

The new film narrated by Sir David Attenborough has some important things to say, but some equally important things should be added to it.

Voice from the Quayside

The NFFO have conducted port visits in Norfolk and East Anglia and ports in the Devon and Cornwall to hear directly from the fishermen what their highest priorities are and what challenges they are facing.

Demands and Threats from the EU over Access to UK Waters Deserve a Firm but Measured Response

As we approach the time when Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU with be reviewed, the rhetoric around the upcoming negotiations is becoming increasingly heated. We shouldn’t take it all too seriously.

It’s all a load of Pollacks

A recent meeting of the Southwest Regional Fishing Group highlighted how fisheries are still facing huge challenges with the lack of access to pollack, a mainstay of many fleet sectors.

New MPAs Will Compensate for Damage from Offshore Wind – and Fishing is in the Firing Line Again.

A Ministerial Statement by Emma Hardy MP, Minister for Water and Flooding, has set out the Government’s plans to expand the UK’s MPA network, to make up for environmental damage caused by offshore wind farms.

Annual Negotiations Underway

The first week of the annual fisheries negotiations between the UK and our neighbours is over and it is clear that there is still a long way to go before the various deals are concluded that will determine the prospects of our industry for the coming year. The crucial issue is, of course, determining the level of exploitation that each stock can support. It’s a simple enough concept, but the decision is seldom straightforward.

Young Fishermen Network

The average age of a fisherman in the UK is 55. Sadly, overtime there has been a steady decline of new entrants into the industry. This is a global issue and a very real challenge for the UK fishing fleet. Matilda Phillips, explains more about the work being done by the the Young Fishermen Network, based in Cornwall.

Fail to plan: plan to fail

NFFO Chief Executive Mike Cohen argues that we need a plan for our seas and a strategy for developing the fishing industry’s place in them.

The Crown Estate’s Marine Routemap: the Rush to Develop Offshore Power

This week, the Crown Estate has laid out its vision and priorities for the future of Britain's seas and it is clear that wind farm development is paramount. The rush to industrialise the marine environment is picking up pace. Meaningful dialogue with genuine stakeholders is the only thing that can prevent harm to the fishing industry and coastal communities.

Celtic Sea Offshore Wind Development Picks up Pace

Improvements seen in offshore wind farm planning, but the difficult conversations haven’t started yet.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Steve Reed OBE MP

At a swelteringly hot event in London last night, Secretary of State for the Environment Steve Reed gave a speech setting out his priorities for the department where he has recently taken the reins. He laid out his five key priorities (cleaning up rivers, lakes and the sea; working towards a zero waste economy; boosting food security through support for producers; speeding up nature recovery; accelerating flood defence construction) and set these within the context of the Prime Minister's core commitment to promoting economic growth. He was explicit in identifying support for fishers as an important part of that and emphasised partnership working and collaboration to deliver change.

NFFO representatives meet new Minister

Newly appointed Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner came to Brixham this week and the NFFO was there to greet him.

Expectation vs Reality: when the campaigning stops, the hard work needs to start.

NFFO Chief Executive Mike Cohen makes some suggestions for the next government

Victory on medicals for under 10s, but the fight goes on

After extensive campaigning by the NFFO, the government has today announced a partial reversal of its policy on medical certification for fishermen. Anyone fishing for 4 weeks or more on a UK under 10m boat between 30th November 2021 and 29th November 2023 is now exempt from the requirement to hold a medical fitness certificate.

More Restrictions – More Spatial Squeeze

The government's recent ban on sandeel fishing and restrictions on mobile gear seem to be more about grabbing headlines than than genuinely contributing to marine resource management.

Two Stage Response Required to Address Pollack Crisis

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has called for a two-stage response to the crisis engulfing the inshore fleets, following the decision to cut the total allowable catch to an unmanageable 832 tonnes, with a risible UK quota of 203 tonnes for 2023.

Fishing, fuel and fake news

There always seem to be some in academia and charity sector who find that they can make a good living pulling in grants and donations by attacking fishermen. Perhaps it is because a working class industry, largely composed of small businesses, doesn’t have the money or the connections to play them at their own game. Whatever the reason, a newspaper is again trotting out discredited claims about the carbon emissions of fishing fleets and a handful of academics and NGOs are pretending that fuel duty rates are subsidies.

1 2 3 40